Why Is Roof Ventilation Important?

March 29, 2018 11:30am

Ventilation is the process of air penetrating a system through an intake and leaving the system through an outlet. Any roofer with experience in roofing San Antonio homes knows that proper ventilation is key to lengthening the life of your roof. Proper ventilation is essential for the health and longevity of most systems that make up a building, roofing included. Without air flowing properly through the roof, moisture starts to accumulate, leading to condense and many other problems – here are a few of the most important reasons why ventilation is so important for healthy, durable roofs:

- The prevention of ice damming – icicles start building when the warm air that moves upward from heated rooms does not find a way out as it should. The warm air trapped in the attic melts the snow on the roof, transforming it into water that runs down the roof. The melted snow freezes again during the process and turns into icicles that accumulate on the edges of the roof. Proper ventilation prevents ice build-ups and protects the roof during the winter.

- Condensation prevention – when warm, moist air meets a colder area, the moisture transforms into droplets of water and settles on the surfaces around, a process called condensation. Proper roof ventilation prevents the dampness caused by condense, thus preventing other types of moisture-related damage, such as rotting and mold.

- Reduced cooling costs – a well-ventilated roof does not let the building to heat up when it is scorching outside, thus reducing cooling costs in summer.